Pregnant mother in Lebanon asks: What about me?
Last Updated: Friday, July 21, 2006 | 5:44 PM AT
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As the mass evacuation of Canadians from Lebanon continues, a pregnant Nova Scotia woman with two toddlers wonders when it will be her turn.
Linda Habib told CBC News on Friday she's still waiting to hear from the Canadian Embassy about when she can leave Lebanon.
"It's too much stress for me and I can't wait any longer," she said, adding the uncertainty is also becoming too much for her children, aged two and three.
Habib, who is seven months pregnant, was in Beirut when the bombing started on July 12. She has been staying at her mother's place an hour north of the city ever since.
Habib says they can still hear fighter planes and explosions.
"Sometimes I tell [the children] it's fireworks," she said.
Once, she added, they asked if it was Canada Day.
There are 30,000 Canadians registered with the embassy in Lebanon, making this the largest evacuation in Canadian history.
The first boatload of Canadians left Beirut on Wednesday, and six ships left Thursday. Another three ships were scheduled to leave on Friday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs says priority is given to the elderly, sick, injured and children.
If that's the case, Habib wonders why she isn't on the list of evacuees, and if her landed immigrant status is the reason.
She says she spoke to a federal official earlier this week who told her she was safe and could wait.
In Halifax, Mike Habib can only offer his prayers. He wants his wife and children to stay put until they hear from the embassy.
"I still believe in the system," said Mike, a storeowner in Halifax. "Hopefully they will call in the next few days."
In the meantime, Linda is considering her options. She plans to contact a travel agent about returning to Canada via Syria.
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